Seed-corn-testing apparatus.



M. T. BASGOM. SEED CORN TESTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED Mu 2,0,1910.

Patented 0613.31, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. T. BASCOM.

SEED CORN TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION I'ILED MAY 20, 1910.

1,007,050. Patented 061. 31, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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MAURICE T. BASCOM, OF ADAIR, IOWA.

SEED-CORN-TESTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application filed May 20, 1910. Serial No. 562,528.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURICE T. BASCOM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Adair, in the county of Adair and State of Iowa, haveinvented a certain new and useful Seed-Corn-Testing Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a seed corn testing apparatusconsisting of a germinating device.

More specifically it is my object to provide a germinating apparatus soarranged as to contain a large number of seeds in a comparatively smallspace and to accurately hold the seeds spaced apart from each other inseparate compartments for purposes of identification, and further toprovide a device of this kind in which the operator may have ready andfree access to all of the seeds contained therein.

Another object is to provide improved means for applying moisture inproper quantities to the germinating device.

A further object is to provide a germinating device of this kind thatmay be utilized as an ordinary table for various purposes when not beingused as a tester so that the device is susceptible of use at all timesas a table top and then during the short period of time when seed corntesting is in progress it provides a convenient and easily operated seedcorn tester.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction,arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby.the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a germinating device embodying myinvention with the cover of the upper compartment in open position. Fig.2 shows a top or plan view of one of the germinating trays with itscover in open position, and Fig. 3 shows a detail, sectional Viewthrough one of the germinating trays in closed position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, my improved germinating devicecomprises a flat table top 10, having supporting legs 11 connectedtherewith and provided with suitable braces 12 and guide bars 13. In thetable top 10 at its central portion is a rectangular depression and inthis depression is a series of round recesses 14: arranged in andextended into the table top a short distance to form seed receptacles,each one being large enough to hold four or five grains of corn. In thebottom of each of said recesses I provide a number, the numbers beingconsecutively arranged beginning with 1 at the upper right hand cornerand then eX- tending consecutively to the left and then down to thesecond row and then consecutively to the right and so on throughout theentire table top" I also preferably provide a detachable identificationcard 15 having numbers marked thereon corresponding in arrangement tothe numbers in said recesses, which card I preferably support adjacentto the table top to serve as a chart to enable the operator to see thearrangement of the num bers within the recesses when said recesses arefilled with corn and the numbers thereby hidden. Hinged to one edge ofthe table top 10 is a fiat cover 16 capable of folding down on top ofthe table top 10 and preferably provided with a smooth flat top surfaceto form a table suitable for ordinary use irrespective of its functionas a seed tester. In the cover 16 I preferably provide an opening andalso a plug 17 for the opening, saidplug being removable to permit theoperator to pour water into the interior of the germinator.

In order to equally distribute the water throughout the recesses andalso to form a substantially air tight seal to prevent evaporation Iprovide a sheet 18 made of absorbent material such as blotting paper andprovided with a series of perforations 19, said perforations beingarranged so that one will stand over each of the recesses 14. I alsopreferably provide a latch device 20 on the table top 10 to engage a pin21 on the cover 16 whereby the parts may be firmly held together. I alsoprovide a number of germinating devices similar in construction to thetable top 10 and cover 16, each of which comprises a lower portion 22corresponding to the table top 10 and an upper portion 23 correspondingto the cover 16. Each of said germinating devices is of such size andshape that it may be inserted between the supporting legs 11 with itsedges resting upon the guide bars 13 so that said germinating devicesmay be placed in position beneath the table top 10 to thereby occupy aminimum of space and to be readily removable and replaceable. Inpractical use rows both longitudinally and transversely i with thisportion of my invention I first remove a number of kernels from each earof corn to be tested and I place the kernels from each ear in one of therecesses 1-1. When one of the germinating devices has been filled inthis manner I place the absorb ent sheet' 18 on top of it and then applywater in sul'licient quantities to partially till the recesses 14 and tosaturate the absorbent sheet 18. I then close the cover 16 and in thisway seal up the germinator so that the moisture will not evaporate toorapidly from the receptacle and the absorbent sheet. After filling therecesses in the table top and closing the cover then the other germinating frames may be successively placed on top of the table and filledand prepared in the same manner and then replaced in posi tion below thetable top. The operator may at any time quickly and easily examine theseeds by raising the cover 16 and all or part of the sheet 18 or he maysupply moisture to the sheet 18 from time to time by removing the plug17 and pouring water into the opening which will be taken up by theabsorbent sheet and distributed throughout the entire germinatingdevice. After the seeds have remained in the germinator for a suflicientperiod of time the operator may determine the fertility of all of theseeds by opening the germinator and removing the sheet 18. .Vhen this isdone it has been found desirable to utilize the card which may be placedin position resting against the raised cover. Assuming for instance thatupon such an examination of the seeds it is found that the seeds in therecess No. 10 and those in the recess No. 20 had failed to germinate, bythe use of said card the operator may at a glance identify theparticular recess by comparing the arrangement of numbers on the cardwith the arrangement of the recesses in the table top 10 so that withoutremoving the seeds, as would be required in viewing the number in thebottom of the recess, he may determine ac curately the number of anyparticular recess by reference to the card 15 and a compari son of itwith the position of the recess in the table top.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a germinatingbody portion having a shallow rectangular depression in its top and alsohaving a series of round recesses in said depression arranged in rowsboth longitudinally and transversely of the body portion, an absorbentsheet placed in said rectangular depression and extended over saidrecesses, means for identifying the recesses, and a cover arranged inits closed position to fit against the edges of said body portionsurrounding the depression and to cover the entire depression.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a germinatingbody portion and also having a shallow rectangular depression in its topand also having a series of round recesses in said depression arrangedin rows both longitudinally and transversely of the body portion, anabsorbent sheet placed in said rectangular depression and extended oversaid recesses, means for identifying the recesses, and a cover arrangedin its closed position to fit against the edges of said body portionsurrounding the depression and to cover the entire depression, saidabsorbent sheet being pro-,

vided with a perforation at each recess and said cover being providedwith an opening through which water may be poured to moisten and to plugsaid opening.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a fiat tabletop, said table top having a rectangular depression, and a series ofround recesses in said depression arranged in rows longitudinally andtransversely, and a flat cover hinged to the table top and designed tofit Hat on top of the table top when in its closed position, for thepurposes stated.

at. In a device of the class described, the combination of aflat tabletop, supporting legs connected therewith, said table top having arectangular depression and a series of round recesses in said depressionarranged in rows longitudinally and transversely, a flat cover hinged tothe table top and designed to fit fiat on top of the table top when inits closed position, guide bars on said legs, and a number ofgerminating devices, each comprising a flat board having a depression, aseries of recesses therein, and a hinged cover connected therewith, eachof said germinating devices being detachably mounted upon said guidebars.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 25, 1910.

MAURICE T. BASCOML lVitnesses:

GEORGE MANKLE, I. V. CURRAN.

-"" ,-1es of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

